Squad news

THINKING OF VALENCIA

20 Feb 2009Deportivo and Valencia battle for a Champions League place at the Riazor, and both will have to play the match with several casualties at their squads. At Depor the problems are in attack, while Valencia is having big difficulties in defence.

The worst thing is that all the injured men will probably miss the returning leg with Aalborg BK, something confirmed by doctor Ram??n Barral to reporters after Friday‚Äôs training session, ‚Ä?Mista has been suffering some problems in the region where the abductor is attached (to the pubis). Until now he has been treated and at the same time he was working with the squad, but hasn‚Äôt improved and now he will stop for two or three weeks. ‚Ä? Was the comment of the doctor regardless to Mista, striker that was a starter against AaB no matter he was having problems in the pubis region.

Later, doctor Barral analysed the case of Riki, Madrilenian attacker that has missed the last two official games, ‚Ä?Riki ended without problems the game with Mallorca, and two days later he was having problems at the inferior left adductor muscle (adductor brevis). He didn‚Äôt respond to the treatment, and after further tests, we can see that he has an inflammation in the muscle (Inflammation of the adductor muscles), therefore the period for a full recovery has been extended.‚Ä?

Related to the case of Bodipo, doctor Barral said the striker is evolving, but that he won‚Äôt be ready for the weekend, ‚Ä?Four weeks ago, Bodipo suffered a hamstring strain, he can tolerate the fact of been working with the group and soon he will enter into the pace of the team. However, after just three weeks, it‚Äôs difficult that he will directly join the list of picked players. ‚Ä?

Barral also confirmed that Manuel Pablo will be sidelined for another two weeks and that Guardado will start to work with the squad during next week. Besides Depor‚Äôs doctor informed that Filipe Luis has a blow on his left leg and Cristian a problem in the hip, reason why both players should be considered as doubtful for the game against Valencia.

Therefore Lotina will have to make some changes in the starting lineup, starting with the centre of the defence. Diego Colotto should be replacing Ze Castro, while the absence of Manuel Pablo should be covered with Laure or Piscu. The question is what will happen if Filipe is not fit to play, because there‚Äôs no natural replacement for him at Depor‚Äôs first squad.

In attack the situation is more complicated, with Riki, Bodipo and now Mista out, Lotina only has the options of Lassad and Omar Bravo. But the worst thing is that for the UEFA clash against AaB, game in which Depor needs goals, only the Mexican is available, this since Lassad was not inscribed for the competition. During Friday it was speculated that Bravo might be loaned to Tigres in Mexico, but the move was discarded due the plague of injuries at the squad.

This means that coach Unai Emery will also have to make several changes at his defensive squad, the Valencian team didn‚Äôt train on Friday, but on Thursday it worked with Vicente Guatia at the goal, he‚Äôs the third keeper at the squad and already debuted in liga against Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca. Besides, Valencia B‚Äôs central defender, Carlos David, was tested during the session, he could make his debut at Primera Divisi??n at the Riazor.